How could Uncle ask him to write a resignation letter and kick him out of the board?
Although he hadn’t been to the company for years, it didn’t mean he didn’t want to continue being a board member of the family business. This was the position and shares his father left him, why should Uncle say he can replace him and take it all away?!
But, looking at Uncle’s serious and kind demeanor, he changed his mind. Maybe Uncle was right, he should resign and let Uncle take over this position. Perhaps letting Uncle take over his role would be better for the company’s growth and management, he knew Uncle was very capable.
However, deep inside, he still felt he wanted to remain a board member and didn’t want to hand it over to Uncle.
Quietly, he said, "Uncle, I will go to Ning Lao Shi for proper therapy."
His uncle seemed to not have heard him, impatiently asking, "Are you going to write the resignation letter or not?"
If it were the past Xia Fanxing who hadn’t consulted with Ning Lao Shi, he might have been pressured by his uncle’s authority, and his own disinterest in everything, to quickly write a resignation letter for Uncle.
Moreover, he would have felt grateful to Uncle for taking over the significant responsibility for him.
But he wasn’t that person now; he was Xia Fanxing who had deep conversations with Ning Lao Shi several times.
So, at this moment,
his mind raced, recalling some recent discussions with Ning Lao Shi, and with courage, he looked up and asked Uncle Xia Gu warmly and inquisitively, "Uncle, I believe I still like being a board member. I am also in consultations with Ning Lao Shi now. Could you give me a little time to think about future work issues?"
At that moment, his uncle was surprised and angry but finally sighed, saying, "Alright, Xing Xing, you are always so indecisive. I didn’t get to where I am today by being indecisive. Meeting problems, solving problems, and decisively making decisions are what an outstanding person should do." With that, he left Xia Fanxing’s home, holding his head high and striding away.
...
Wednesday, at the appointed time.
Xia Fanxing was already very familiar with Ning Lao Shi, and the simply decorated and clean office in front of him.
Without waiting for Ning Lao Shi to signal, he sat on the chair in the middle of Ning Youguang’s office and angrily and wordlessly recounted the last time his uncle came to his house.
Ning Youguang sat opposite, quietly listening before saying, "So your uncle is not a psychological counselor, but an elder, accustomed to adopting a teacher’s stance, criticizing the shortcomings of the younger ones, skilled at persuasion, but lacking patience."
After discussing the uncle’s situation, they continued with the unfinished content from last time in their consultation.
"What does obedient behavior have to do with dependence on parents? Don’t all kids rely on their parents?" Xia Fanxing asked, puzzled.
"You’re right, but now you are an adult. Your parents have passed away, and you need to grow up yourself."
"I have already grown up."
"Psychologically grown up," Ning Youguang said seriously, "For most people, the essence of growth is to ultimately break the dependence on parents and elders, that’s how one becomes independent. But in fact, very few people safely reach this point. Some can partially achieve it, yet many will depend on their parents for life."
"How could that be?" Xia Fanxing retorted, "Many people, when they grow up, have their jobs, get married and have children, and become parents themselves, not living with their parents. Isn’t this a sign of becoming independent adults?"
Ning Youguang shook his head slowly, "No."
Two words, extremely certain.
Xia Fanxing was startled, then foolishly laughed, "I thought only people like me lacked the ability to be independent."
It turned out there were so many people who hadn’t matured from a psychological age perspective, including those who seemed perfectly normal too.
In an instant, a strange sense of equanimity brought Xia Fanxing a bit of joy.
Ning Youguang saw the silly smile on his face, smiled, and said nothing.
She understood.
That’s the way some parts of human nature are. Some people recognize their shortcomings, feeling very inferior and distressed, but if they discover many people around them are the same, they quickly accept their shortcomings and won’t continue to feel inferior and distressed.
After foolishly smiling for a while, Xia Fanxing felt his state had improved compared to before, so he tentatively asked Ning Lao Shi, who was smiling with his brows and eyes, "Ning Lao Shi, can I set the theme for this conversation?"